Embargo militar

Why?

Why a military embargo is needed

Israel is only able to carry out brutal massacres and deliberately kill Palestinian civilians because of the willingness of governments, institutions and companies around the world to cooperate with Israel’s military and weapons companies. Over the period 2009-2018, the US is set to provide military aid to Israel worth $30bn and governments and companies across the world export weapons and security services to Israel. Israel’s military industry depends on exports to foreign markets: up to 70% of Israel’s military production is exported, mainly to the global South. Military assaults on Palestinians are used by Israeli military companies to test and market new weapons and military technology. Israeli weapons companies market their weapons as “field-tested”. Israeli military companies such as Elbit Systems are key drivers in the proliferation of both drones, and a ruthless model of securitization and militarized repression to the world.

In 2014, Israel launched its third major attack on Gaza in just five years. More than 2,200 Palestinians were killed, including more than 500 children. Entire families were annihilated in their homes.

This loss of civilian life was entirely deliberate. The Israeli military has adopted the Dahiya Doctrine, named after a Beirut neighbourhood devastated during the 2006 war, which calls for the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure as a way to deter all forms of resistance to its oppression. The UN and human rights organizations have repeatedly documented how Israel has carried out war crimes.

Israel has recently adopted new “rules of engagement” that allow its occupation forces to “shoot to kill” Palestinian protesters, including children and youth. Israel has been documented as using banned weapons including cluster munitions and white phosphorus (pictured).

The functioning of this system depends on the willingness of governments and companies around the world to cooperate with Israel’s military, weapons industry and military research institutions.

2,300

Palestinians killed during Israel's 2014 attack on Gaza

Military aid and exports to Israel are used to further its oppression of Palestinians and enable it to carry out its war crimes.

Over the period 2009-2018, the US is set to provide military aid to Israel worth $30bn, which is then used to purchase weapons and equipment from US companies. Since 2000, the US has licensed the export of nearly $825m of weapons to Israel, valued at nearly $10.5 billion.

Virtually all of the world’s major arms companies do business with Israel, including BAE Systems, Raytheon, General Electric and Lockheed Martin.

International companies such as G4S and HP act as private contractors, taking on key supporting roles in helping Israel to maintain its infrastructure of militarism and racial oppression. South African company Cape Gate provides fencing used in Israel’s illegal wall and settlements.

$30bn

Over the period 2009-2018, the US is set to provide military aid to Israel worth $30bn

Military exports from Israel totaled $7.5bn in 2012 and Israel was the world’s 8th largest arms exporter in 2014, especially remarkable given its relative size.

Purchases of Israeli weapons and military technology help fund the Israeli military-industrial complex and provide an important revenue stream for the Israeli state, helping to pay for its oppression of Palestinians.

Israeli military companies market their products as “field tested”, by which they mean that they are tested on the bodies of Palestinians.

Israeli arms companies have publicly boasted about the effectiveness of the new technologies trialled for the first time during the 2014 Gaza massacre.

This use of Israeli assaults and military operations to test and market military exports creates a powerful financial incentive for continued oppression and violence.

Israel invented military drones and regularly uses them in its attacks on Palestinians in Gaza - including in deliberate attacks on civilians.

According to the Al Mezan Center, a Gaza-based human rights organization, more than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza were killed by armed drones in the period 2000-10.

Israel is also increasingly using drones for surveillance in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Israeli military companies such as Elbit Systems use occupied Palestinian territory as a lab on which to test its drone technology and then markets drones across the world.

61% percent of the world’s drones built since 1985 have been supplied by Israeli companies. The Israeli regime is a key driving force behind the proliferation of drones and the sense of impunity they encourage.

Drones manufactured by Israeli companies are now used in armed conflicts across the world and have been purchased by more than a dozen of countries including the US, Canada, the UK, Russia and Brazil. ​

61%

Israel has supplied 61% of the world's drones since 1985.

Israel is not just oppressing Palestinians - it is exporting its ruthless model of securitization and militarized repression to the world.

Últimas notícias sobre a campanha

Impact

The global campaign for a military embargo on Israel

In 2011, the Palestinian BDS National Committee issued a call for a comprehensive military embargo on Israel. The call urged: an end to military aid and weapons exports to Israel, ending the transfer of weapons and military technology to and from Israel, and ending all forms of military aid and research cooperation. The call for a military embargo is now supported by political parties, NGOs, trade unions and campaign groups across the world. Palestinian BDS National Committee member organisation Stop the Wall is leading an effective international campaign against Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest military company.

Milestones

Banks divest from Elbit Systems

>More than a dozen banks have announced that they have divested from Elbit Systems over its role in Israel’s military violence, and the company has been blacklisted by many investment advice companies. UK bank Barclays divested after more than 1.7 million people signed a petition organised by Avaaz and campaigners have occupied and protested at bank branches across the UK.

Elbit loses deals

Elbit’s participation in a Brazilian drone development effort was terminated at the beginning of 2016. This followed a 2014 decision by the Rio Grande do Sul regional government to end a large-scale research collaboration project with Elbit Systems. Elbit factories across the world have been repeatedly blockaded by campaigners. Elbit has lost out on deals in Denmark and France following public campaigns.

Norway refuses to sell weapons to Israel

The Norwegian government has an official policy of not exporting weapons to Israel. In 2010, Norway even refused to allow the testing of a submarine that a German company was manufacturing for Israel in its waters. However, Norwegian campaigners point out that a US-based subsidiary of a Norwegian arms company does export weapons to Israel.

Take Action

Israel’s military machine depends on cooperation and trade with governments, companies and institutions across the world. Grassroots campaigning for a military embargo is a key way of tackling Israeli impunity.

Spread the word!

Palestinian civil society has called for a comprehensive and immediate military embargo on Israel. BDS campaigning is starting to have an impact on Israeli military companies such as Elbit Systems.
Help us spread the word!

Bring the military embargo to your streets

Find out more

Make freedom of information requests, ask elected representatives to question local or federal governments about their military relations with Israel and Israeli military companies.

Campaign for divestment

Banks and pension funds that you are a customer of are likely to have collaboration with Israeli military companies or complicit corporations such as G4S and HP. Pressure them to divest.

On campus

Universities across the world conduct joint military research with Israel or with weapons companies that supply the Israeli military. Campaign for them to cut their ties to Israel’s military industry!

Build support

Organize for unions,campaign groups and political parties to support the campaign for a military embargo.

Protests and direct action

Target arms factories that are owned by Israeli companies or companies that export weapons to Israel and the arms fairs at which Israel markets its military technology.

Media

Military and security cooperation is generally off the radar of the public debate. Raise the issue!

Local governments

Campaign for local governments to commit to not collaborate with or invest in Israeli military companies or international companies such as G4S or HP and to pressure central government.

This website is maintained by the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the coalition of Palestinian organisations that leads and supports the BDS movement and by the Palestinian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a BNC member organisation.